Leveraging IBM’s decades of research and expertise in Artificial Intelligence we created a form of spatial exploration that allows humans to scale their abilities to comprehend data at scale and see how AI works. By integrating science, technology, and creative expression, we can make clear to clients and the world the value of AI and both its practical applications and potential for society.

Blending storytelling with design, data, and expert-guided interaction, we present immersive AI experiences that are clear, reasoned, and approachable. Every use-case starts with a deep-dive workshop that leverages skills from our product teams, creative and interaction designers and spatial engineers.

Over the course of 6 months, our teams iteratively refine the story, interactions, end-to-end prototypes, and spatial engineering to create the applications. Using gesture-based interaction and in-depth data visualizations, we demo how AI systems make decisions and what we are doing with it today — on natural disasters and financial crimes, oil rigs and art galleries, headlines and product lines.

Our 300° immersive room allows humans to see massive amounts data through the lens of machine learning, along with the endless patterns, insights, and opportunities it promises.

The centers are utilized 100% throughout the year during which, the centers present these stories of Watson to thousands of groups, made up of 15,000 visitors, across 25 industries — sparking their imaginations and seeding their knowledge of AI.

The IBM Watson Experience centers are permanently branded experiences, with locations in New York City, San Francisco, and Cambridge. The centers are invitation only, and their primary audience is potential customers of IBM Watson. The collaborative meeting space also serves as educational centers for researchers, students, and media.

Each location acts as a hive of creative and technical Watson activity. The centers are a physical representation of the IBM Watson brand and challenge both misconceptions of AI and visitors’ preconceived notions of IBM and an IBM-er.

To tell the story of AI, we looked to history for inspiration. We were particularly inspired by Ray and Charles Eames’ iconic work at the World’s Fair; a visionary exhibit that told of the partnership between computers and society. This inspiration led to an idea of humanity at the core of AI. We created a collaborative meeting space where clients, researchers, and students learn about Artificial Intelligence with real-world examples of AI working to help people across industries, demystifying AI and reshaping misconceptions in the process.

Our guides invite visitors to look under the hood of AI technology: how we transform terabytes into insights, how we teach our systems to learn, how we train it, and how we utilize it; the power of AI presented with a human perspective

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. More than 8.3 billion devices around the world are turning on lights, brewing cups of coffee, and controlling the comfort of our homes with the ease of AI. But, few among us understand how these systems work and even fewer can effectively communicate those ideas to others in a way that is clear and approachable. Challenging ourselves to transform the conversation around Artificial Intelligence — we set out to create a way to explain these complex and technical ideas in a clear, reasoned, and a human voice.

Our visitors encompass all levels of technical expertise — from technically savvy CEOs to a student in our local Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-Tech) partnerships — every visitor needs to leave with a clearer understanding of Watson and AI and feel inspired by its potential for society.